ForPlayers Case Study | Signal-Based Sponsorship Growth

🚨 Challenge

ForPlayers is an esports organization seeking to grow through brand sponsorships and partnerships. Despite strong audience engagement and competitive success, they struggled to convert that into revenue:

• Inconsistent sponsor pipeline — strong months followed by dry spells with no clear pattern.

• Wrong brand conversations — too many meetings with marketing managers who couldn't commit budget.

• Perception challenges — some brands still viewed esports as niche or risky.

• Competition for attention — brands received constant pitches from esports organizations.

They needed a way to identify brands actively exploring esports partnerships and connect with decision-makers who had authority and budget.
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💰 Results

Within 3 months, we helped ForPlayers achieve:

• €70K in new revenue — from sponsorship deals with brands actively seeking esports partnerships.

• Higher quality meetings — conversations with marketing directors and brand managers with decision-making authority.

• Stronger partnerships — deals structured for long-term relationships, not one-off activations.

• Predictable sponsor pipeline — consistent flow of brand conversations replaced the boom-bust cycle.

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✅ Solution

Our approach focused on identifying brand signals — indicators that a company was actively exploring esports or gaming as a marketing channel.

1. Identifying Brand Exploration Signals

We mapped the signals that indicate a brand is ready for esports partnerships:

• Competitor esports activity: Brands whose direct competitors had recently launched esports partnerships, creating pressure to respond.

• Youth marketing shifts: Companies showing strategic moves toward younger demographics through channel or messaging changes.

• Gaming-adjacent sponsorships: Brands sponsoring gaming content creators, streaming platforms, or gaming events.

• Marketing leadership changes: Companies that had hired marketing executives with gaming or entertainment backgrounds.

• Category timing: Brands in categories naturally aligned with gaming audiences (energy drinks, snacks, peripherals, apparel).

2. Connecting with Decision-Makers

Instead of pitching to junior marketing staff, we positioned ForPlayers in front of people with authority:

• Identified marketing directors, brand managers, and sponsorship leads with budget authority.

• Bypassed agencies and gatekeepers who slow partnership processes.

• Focused on brands where esports exploration had executive sponsorship.

3. Timing for Maximum Receptivity

We timed introductions for moments of maximum brand receptivity:

• Connected when brands were actively researching esports — not interrupting, but joining existing conversations.

• Messaging acknowledged their exploration: 'I see you're evaluating gaming partnerships — here's how ForPlayers has delivered measurable results for similar brands.'

• Proposals arrived when budget allocation discussions were happening.

4. Building Partnership Quality

Signal-based introductions led to better partnerships:

• Brands who were actively exploring esports understood the value proposition already.

• Conversations focused on fit and execution, not education and convincing.

• Deal structures reflected genuine partnership interest, not experimental budgets.

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🏹 Breaking Free from the Pitch Cycle

Before working with us, ForPlayers operated like most esports organizations — sending sponsorship decks to brand contacts and hoping for responses. The result was inconsistent revenue and meetings with people who couldn't make decisions.

By shifting to signal-based introductions, we helped them connect with brands at the exact moment esports partnership interest peaked. The conversations changed from 'esports is a great marketing channel' to 'I see you're exploring gaming partnerships — here's how we've delivered for brands like yours.'

The result? €70K in 3 months. Stronger partnerships. A sponsor pipeline built on timing, not hope.

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If ForPlayers' success resonates with your esports organization or sponsorship-driven business, let's talk. We help sports, entertainment, and media properties connect with brands showing active partnership signals — so your pitch arrives when receptivity is highest.